Product Development – Page 3 – Kaongora Newsletter

Abemama Island and Food Security

November 30, 2020November 30, 2020 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati team had visited Abemama from the 1st to the 16^th of November 2020 for a follow-up on development of eco-tourism products through assisting local communities on ways to enhance food security in the context of global climate change using the tourism sector.

The team conducted consultations with active communities and villages on existing and new eco-tourism products for industry partnership development. Agri-domestic skills supporting traditional culinary practices and experiences have incentivise communities with initiatives within the tourism industry at communities based levels.

Abatiku islet had been declared and recognized as a Marine Protected Area to conserve and safeguard marine resources for the welfare and wellbeing of its inhabitants. Reina and Baretoa villages and other factories Development have passed the trial of partnership in outsourcing skills and knowledge to future visitors and tourists on the preservation of food against the impacts of climate change. An official from Tourism, Ms Kiarake Karuaki stated how these activities have motivated communities in Abemama to be prepared toward challenges of food security as climate change unfolds.

A spokesman, Mr Iotebwa Etuati appreciated more alternatives introduced to them, through the tourism industry as a source of revenue and sustainable development. This trip had offered first hand experiences for participants and targeted communities in generating strategies toward food security.

The trip was funded by the Food Security project which is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) -Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) through the United Nations Development Programme, and executed by the Environment and Conservation Division under the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agriculture Development.

TAK & KiriCAN discuss Collaboration Opportunities

October 29, 2020 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) met with the Kiribati Climate Action Network (KiriCAN) on 13 October 2020 to discuss opportunities for collaboration between the two organisations.

KiriCAN is the mother organisation for climate change and resilience NGO’s in Kiribati and is well recognised for developing effective climate change mitigation initiatives through agriculture and environmental conservation.

For over 10 years, KiriCAN has been worked with over 700 communities around Kiribati including South Tarawa and other Gilbert island to build resilient initiatives against the impact of climate change. Their activities include capacity building on agricultural skills and techniques to maximize the production, soap making (noni and charcoal), farming healthy greens (organic culinary) and nutritious foods, noni juice, and antibiotics.

The KiriCAN promotes a resilient Kiribati through local adaptation measures as well as a mind-set that will train the local I-Kiribati citizens that climate change is not a threat but an opportunity to learn more on how to survive with it and what are alternatives that can generates revenue.

TAK acknowledges the opportunities KiriCAN presents for the development of responsible and agritourism niche products through community engagement and both organisations seek to explore these potentials further.

Cultural Rehabilitation and Ecotourism Development in Maiana

July 29, 2020 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati undertook a cultural rehabilitation program and ecotourism development consultation on the island of Maiana from 14 to 28 June 2020.

On the first week, TAK teamed up with a Cultural Museum Division (CMD) team during their village consultations. These consultations aimed at increasing awareness on the significance of maintaining cultural heritage and planting of resilient local food crops to enhance their food security and maintain traditional cuisine and to sustain local knowledge and practices in response to the adverse impacts of climate change.

TAK was involved in the cultural rehabilitation consultations with village elders (unimwane). This was the first ever joint Culture and Tourism mission to help restore and rehabilitate site of cultural significance for tourism purposes as well and for future generations to enjoy. The team had the opportunity to discuss with village decision makers ways in which these important sites were to be preserved or beautified. This joint task was as extension of work done in Abemama and Nonouti.

Whilst in Maiana, the TAK team seized the opportunity to expand its awareness on the importance of Ecotourism and its linkages to cultural heritage, agritourism and other tourism related businesses development. TAK consulted with different villages and their communities to identify potential eco-tourism businesses and conduct SWOT analysis for each village.

The program culminated with a one- day training workshop on how to develop ecotourism packages and tourism itinerary development and planning.

The TAK team is expects to revisit to Maiana to work with communities who have shown interest to commence their eco-tourism business initiatives and to continue its engagement with CMD on beautification of Maiana cultural sites. These activities are to augment strategies against the instabilities of climate change.

This activity was supported by the LDCF-1 Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented under the Environment and Conservation Division with the support of the United Nations Development Programme.

PIPA TOURISM INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

May 31, 2020 by Taare Rikiai

The PIPA Tourism Advisory subcommittee (PTASC)met in 21 May to review the Request for Proposal (RFP) for an Integrated Sustainable Tourism Development in Kanton and other potential areas in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA).

Chaired by PIPA Implementation Office (PIO), PTASC is made up of stakeholder representatives from Tourism, Lands, Culture, and the Commerce Ministry.

Once finalised, the RFP will be an invitation to potential investors to consider sustainable tourism development in PIPA. The RFP is based on Kanton, Orona and Nikumaroro, the island believed to be final resting place of aviator Amelia Earhart.

The next meeting to finalize the draft Request Proposal Document is scheduled to the 2^nd week of June 2020.

MAURI MARK PROGRAM REVIEW

May 28, 2020 by Sarah Teetu Reymond

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) is finalising the review on the Kiribati Mauri Mark Program.

The Mauri Mark was initially developed as Kiribati’s National Tourism Standards Programme for all visitor accommodations. Through the review, TAK has extended this standards program to include tourism enterprises such as restaurants and bars, tourism leisure crafts and dive operators. The revised Mauri Mark program will also include the Mauri Way, an industry wide customer service program.

Mauri Mark is designed to ensure high level of safety and security for our visitors and aims to improve overall visitor experience.

The program is based on the compliance standards developed in partnership with Kiribati’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), Ministry of Fisheries and Marines Resources Development (MFMRD) and the Ministry of Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development (MICTTD) and the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) is mandated under the Tourism Act 2018 to manage this program.

TAK believes that once finalised and implemented, the Mauri Mark standards program will help in Kiribati’s post COVID-19 tourism recover strategy and guarantee improved product offerings to visitors when international travel resumes.

Mauri Mark awareness workshops and audits are scheduled to begin in August 2020.

TAK SUPPORTS CLEAN UP PROGRAM

May 28, 2020 by Sarah Teetu Reymond

Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) had the privilege to participate in clean-up and tree replanting awareness program on the 21 May 2020.

This was part of the Ministry of Environment, Land and Agricultural Development’s (MELAD) International Biodiversity Day celebrations that included the clean up at the Taiwan Park led by the MELAD Biodiversity team.

The theme of the 2020 International Biodiversity Day was “our solutions are in nature’ and MELAD chose this year’s celebration to focus on raising awareness and appreciation of our natural environment and what we can do as a community to protect it.

TAK agrees that such a program is equally important and relevant to our tourism messaging of a clean and pristine island destination and encourages greater involvement from the wider community.

TOURISM AND SUSTAINABLE COASTAL FISHERIES

May 28, 2020 by Taare Rikiai

Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) attended the Commonwealth Blue Charter National Workshop on Sustainable Coastal Fisheries Action Group from on 22 and 23 May 2020 at Teuanete Maneaba in Taborio.

The Blue Charter is an initiative from the Commonwealth on sustainable management and development of the marine resources. It has 10 action groups which will address issues and developments on different areas of the ocean.

Kiribati initiated to champion the 10th action group called Sustainable Coastal Fisheries which will be led by the Coastal Fisheries Division under the Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resource Development (MFMRD).

Among key stakeholders, TAK delivered a presentation sharing the linkages between tourism and the sustainable coastal fisheries and highlighted how tourism can contribute to achieving sustainable coastal fisheries. TAK also raised the notion of possible areas of collaboration between stakeholders and underlined issues that may hinder the successful development of sustainable coastal fisheries and the development of marine eco-tourism.

TAK looks forward to its continued participation and contribution to Sustainable Coastal Fisheries Action Group. END

Tourism Product Research identifies 7 sites to visit in Kiritimati island

December 5, 2019December 1, 2019 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati in Kiritimati Island conducted a tourism product research to identify key activities that a visitor can do while on the island.

Part of the preparation, involved, meeting with a representative from Wildlife & Conservation Unit, Agriculture division and Fisheries division to discuss and identify each individual’s resources that could be highlighted as one of the tourism activities that a visitor can engage or involve in.

An on-site visit to the 7 target proposed tourism sites on the island was carried out on Friday 1^st of November 2019. The idea of a site visit was to get familiarized with the area, get good photos and GPS plotting to develop a tourist map of the island.

The seven propose sites includes

Agriculture plantation land – an opportunity for a visitor to plants his/her own coconut tree
Artemia Corner – to see turtle’s footprint and nesting ground.
Joe’s Hill – highlighted as the highest sand hill on the island.
The Isles lagoon – ideal for Kayaking and bird feeding and bird watching
Huff Dam – ideal for GT fishing, kayaking, bird feeding and bird watching
Te Nei Rababa – an opportunity for a visitor to see a unique coconut tree that has 9 trunks
Long Beach – ideal for a visitor to suntan on a very wide and long white beach and swimming.

Cherishing the cultural and historical stories of Nonouti – International fly fishing and anglers cultural experience in Nonouti

November 10, 2019October 30, 2019 by Taare Rikiai

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A week before the arrival of the first group of anglers in Nonouti, TAK official visited Nonouti to prepare the island from the 2^nd to the 9^th of September.

Part of the fishing package prepared by the Island Council and the TAK is the cultural aspect of Nonouti. Such cultural aspects are the cultural and historical heritage of Nonouti Island which mostly tells a story of the island of Nonouti and the people itself

There are 6 cultural/historical sites including monuments stationed in two villages identified by the tour guide from Nonouti. These are: Te Aake Maneaba, Marenaubon, the shrine of Nei Tewenei, the headquarters of the Roman Catholic and the monuments of the first Catholic missionaries arrived in Kiribati, Nonouti. These are all stationed at Umwantewenei and Taribo tribe in the village of Taboiaki. Ana Ngea te Unimwaane is the last shrine and offering site located at Tekib’aka tribe in Temoti village, the last village in the Southern Nonouti. The following sites were identified and chosen as the major cultural and historical sites to be visited because of their important and rich stories about the Kiribati customs and beliefs, the first arrival of Christianity in Kiribati and the married of both the traditional and western knowledge that built up the largest community house/maneaba in Kiribati.

Cherishing the cultural and historical stories of Nonouti - International fly fishing and anglers cultural experiences in Nonouti Island

As part of the biggest preparation for the island, the TAK work closely with the local tour guide and the communities for a beautification and maintenance task. TAK spent a week for this preparation of the sites cleaning and landscaping. Part of the preparation, TAK and the local tour guide managed to create simple signage of each cultural sites & monuments. This will ensure that while the tour guide is taking the visitors around to these sites & monuments telling each story, the visitors can also relate to the signage at the same time. This will also be easy for the anglers to note down the names of cultural sites & monuments visited. Additionally, it will be helpful to the anglers when it comes to sharing such great cultural tour experiences via travel blogs or social media outlets. There would not be issues with naming such sites and monuments.

TAK also promoted to the local communities the importance of these sites and how small- scale businesses can be developed to support their livelihood at the same time. This will create a sense of ownership to these sites and will support its maintenance in the long term. “This is a great idea, we can make garlands for the anglers and sell it to them together with the fresh coconut juice (moimoto)” said Angineti Itinata from the Catholic Church women group from Te Riki-n-Imakurata, Taboiaki.

This activity is supported by the LDCF-1 Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented under the Environment and Conservation Division with the support of the United Nations Development Programme.

Community first: A Bottom-Up approach to sustain livelihoods at the communities of Abemama through Eco-tourism and Community-Based Fisheries Management approach.

September 15, 2019September 10, 2019 by Taare Rikiai

A team of two (2) officials from Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) and Fisheries Division (FD) had visited Abemama on the 4-11 August 2019 to empower the local communities to generate and control directly their own Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and tourism activities.

9 communities were visited including Tebwanga Maiaki and Meang, Tabontebike, Reina, Baretoa, Tekatirirake, Tabiang Maiaki and Meang and the islet of Abemama named Abatiku.

This joint initiative is to allow the communities to enhance their development and well-being in respect of the marine biodiversity and their cultural heritage in order to sustain their food security from the marine food sources against tourism and climate change impact.

Component of the consultation include amongst others; awareness on Community Based Fisheries Management locally known, tour package development utilizing cultural and natural resources available linking both agriculture and tourism sectors: “agritourism”.

This has many benefits to the communities of Abemama such as creating and sustaining livelihoods through conservation of the marine and land biodiversity, maintaining and beautification of cultural heritage sites, introducing of income generating activities through the MPAs and cultural sites tours, showcasing of unique traditional ways of living, marketing of local handicrafts, bringing in sustainable tourism developments and practices such as in planning of creative and environmental friendly accommodations. From these benefits, all are contributing to enhancing of food security against the impact of climate change and overall increasing the national economic developments as a higher-level objective.

As an outcome of this visit, the management plan for MPA in Abatiku will be drafted and to have incorporated the protection of bonefish for fly-fishing game targeted for international tourists. 1 new community from Kabangaki village proposed to establish it’s MPA, awareness is increased on the development and implementation of the tour package development, identification of constraints in the implementation of the community Fisheries Management Plans and the possible way forward, awareness is increased on the integration of their natural resources with tourism such as in showcasing the giant taro swamp and traditional skills to cultivate the giant taro plant.

During the visit to Abatiku islet, the community were also informed about the coming of the Cruise in November 2020 for the tour to this islet. Hence the community were also briefed on the need to ensure preparation of the islet for guest satisfaction and for the locals to utilize this opportunity in marketing their traditional skills, dances and handicrafts.

Strong support was seen from the communities throughout the consultation such as in the islet of Abatiku, the councilor and the members had agreed to support this visit. The councilor Mr Avia Teruruai said “you have the full support of Abatiku as a whole to prepare for the cruise visit by protecting our marine resources, maintaining and conserving the historical and cultural site at sea and on land as part of the cruise passengers unique experience”.

At Tekatirirake village, the community added that “the need of establishing our marine protected areas will serve two purposes; to protect and conserve our marine resources and also to create something that would attract tourists.” Such a comment reaffirms the of value this program for the people of Abemama. Thus, the benefits will also assist in mitigating food security challenges and create more enterprising opportunities.

The trip was supported by the Kiribati LDCF-I project, funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented under the Environment and Conservation Division with the support of the United Nations Development Programme.

Tourism Authority Kiribati